July 16, 2012

Butterflies In The UK On The Decline Due To Wet Weather

It isn´t just the Olympics that may suffer from the wet weather that UK residents are experiencing.

The damp weather may impact the country´s Big Butterfly Count, an annual event run by charity Butterfly Conservation. It began on July 14th and runs through Aug. 5th.

Butterfly Conversation President Sir David Attenborough urged more public participation, especially given the negative impact that damp weather has on butterfly populations.

"When they're in the egg, when they're a caterpillar and when they're a pupa, everything about their lives is dependent on the ambient temperature of the outside world and their ability to warm up,” he told BBC News.

Warm weather in March followed by a mild winter had some positive indications for a thriving spring and summer.

The annual Big Butterfly Count in the UK, now in its third year, is recognized as the largest public effort to tally butterflies in the world. Those who want to participate can download a chart from the organization web site, create an account, and broadcast their findings.

Last year the public counted 11,000 butterflies, which was down 11 percent from the previous year. The goal of the effort, according to organizers, is to monitor the country´s butterfly population over the long term and determine any effects of atmospheric changes.